Hablullah: Issue #9

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

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Total Submission

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

 

Allah says in Surah Luqman;

Whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the Most Trustworthy Hand-Hold: and with Allah rests the end and decision of (all) affairs.  (31:22)

What is total submission and how can one submit totality?  One way that total submission can be materialised is during Salaat.  In salaat when we stand we are supposed to cut-off ourselves from the world and know that Allah is in front of us.  We are supposed to pray with our heart and body; our total personality.

In connection with this Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said “the Lord doth not regard a prayer in which heart doth not accompany the body”.  Are you putting you entire personality in front of your Lord? 

 
Allah records for our understanding two Messengers who expressed total submission.  Prophet Abraham (as) and our beloved leader Muhammad (pboh).
 
Allah records Abraham (as) as saying

Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds.  (6:162)
 
He recognised that he had no say of his own.  Everything is for Allah.  His submission was so remarkable that even after he got the son he craved so much for and the command came to leave him in the wilderness he obliged even though he may have had emotional discomfort. 
 

The same is evident in the seerah of Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  Allah says;

 
‘Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire’.  (53:3)

Prophet (pboh)  never said anything of his own desire.  Everything was on the basis of Divine Command.  He always waited on a command/revelation from Allah and never took it on his own to give an opinion.
 
Before Islam came we never saw this sort of dedication to Allah.  The Israelites who were so blessed by Allah never submitted to Him.  They chose instead to send and rely on their Messengers.  The Christians stand before Jesus (as) not God Almighty.

This is why when Jibraeel asked Prophet Muhammad (pboh)  in the presence of his Companions “Tell me about Ihsaan”.  To which Prophet (pboh) replied “That you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you don't see Him then truly He sees you”.
 

If you put yourself in Allah’s care you would have submitted to the best of your ability.  Those who practice this would surely have grasped the Most Trustworthy Hand-Hold that would never break.

 
If someone is drowning naturally they will grab on to something that is strong that won’t break.  Therefore get your hand held onto by Allah.
 

Everything boils down on your intention.  And this is what Satan works on because he himself showed his true self intention when his test came.  Allah knows all of our intentions and one day it will come out.  Therefore live your life with good intention and insha Allah you will be from amongst thoe who would have held on to the Trustworthy Hand-Hold.

 
It is not easy and can be very challenging, but whoever does so will be given their just reward. 

Is it recorded in Bukhari and Muslim that Allah will say, “Send forth those who are destined for hell!  Adam (as) will say “Who are those”?  Allah will say “Out of every 1000, 999 go to hell and 1 to paradise”.

Strive to be that one regardless of the society and situation.  
 

May Allah make it easy for us all.  May He enable us to continuously work on purifying our intentions and may He allow us to grasp that Hand-Hold that will save us from His punishment and lead us to eternal bliss.

The Bee

 

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

We all know that Allah is The Greatest, and He has demonstrated His Greatness through His creation and in our individual bodies. 

Today we will look at just one of the creatures of Allah that demonstrates His Greatness.  This creature is the bee, which is also the name of one of the chapters in the Holy Qur’an. 

The bee is a very starterling creature with regards to its organisation and management of its recourses.  They are so well organised that each one has a duty that contributes to the overall sustenance of the hive.  Allah says in Surah Nahl;

And thy Lord taught the bee to build its hives in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations.  (16:68)

The bees structure and divide their labour to such a remarkable extent that, for example, when they find another source of nectar in another tree, they return to their hive and fly in a particular vector to announce to the others where the alternative source of nectar is. Each member of the hive has its own duty and responsibility, and one bee does not aspire to take over management responsibilites from the others.

And through their organisation and work they produce one of the best and natural drinks available, which illustrate the greatness of Allah.  The bees digest nectar and regurgitate it to produce honey.  Such a sweet and sort after drink is produced in such a mind boggling manner.

Even though, they are such tiny creatures we can take pattern from them with regard to their management structure, unity and specialization.  Because of their unity look at what they can produce.  If we are united and work for the greater good what we can achieve.  And this is what Islam came to do; unite mankind to work together on the path of Siratul Mustaqeem. 

This is possibly one reason why Allah gave us the story of the bees.  We are to take on the responsibilities of working for this world and the next; and manage our time and resources properly and correctly in order to succeed. 

May Allah enable us to adopt the organisational and unification methods practiced by His creatures and may continuously grant us the ability to reflect and ponder over His Greatness and recognise it in our everyday lives.

Keeping your focus

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

Before we begin to pray any Salaat we recite something very important.

“For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah”. (6:79)

Some do not understand the implication of this. We are actually standing in front of Allah and He is able to see the true condition of our hearts. You cannot hide anything from Him.

In meditation, when you sit in front of your Sheikh he is actually looking at your heart and when your heart wavers he will be able to tell you. If your Sheikh can see your heart, what about Allah and His Rasool (pboh)?

This is why we think of sitting in front of Prophet Muhammad (pboh) through our Sheikh. He looks at your hearts as long as you can keep your focus.

Beside those good and honourable people who can look at your hearts, Satan can also look. And this is one reason why emphasis is placed on wudu as a measure is to keep him out. If he gets a single opportunity he can divert your focus. He doesn’t want you to gain closeness to the Allah and His Rasool .

Something to remember: Before Adam (as) was sent on earth who used to pray more than Satan? He worshiped more than even the angels. But look at what happened to him in the end. His intention was not for Allah but for status and promotion. And he achieved it all until the test came and he showed his true self.

The same principle is found in spirituality. You can be progressing along well, until you get a test and Satan will use it as an opportunity to divert you. For example when you are in a bad mood how will you generally respond to others?

This is possibly why Prophet Muhammad (pboh) said “the eyes of Allah's Apostle sleep but his heart does not sleep”. Satan cannot whisper to his heart and divert him.

We are also trying to do the same. When we’re in meditation we are supposed to think that our Sheikh is in front of us, because he can help. So long as you sit and connect your heart, Allah through His Grace and the status He gave Prophet (pboh) will properly direct you. If your thought wavers Prophet and your Sheikh will know.

Our goal is to get closer to Prophet Muhammad (pboh), so blank your mind from all others things. It’s not easy. It takes patience and peace of the mind and heart.

Pay no heed to all those who talk about spirituality being haram, bida and shirk. Make dua for them because only you will know of the experience.

If you are doing it for the sake of Allah He will strengthen you and guide you. Through zikirullah your personality will become bright and shinning.

May Allah enable us to continue striving along the spiritual path and may He protect us from those who wish to divert our focus, insha Allah.